CONFIDENTIAL
FM HONG KONG
TO PRIORITY FCO
TELNO 3135
OF 26050OZ OCTOBER 90
CONFIDENTIAL
INFO ROUTINE PEKING, UKREP JLG HONG KONG
PART TWO OF TWO
002646
MDLIAN 1744
HKO 241
RECEIVE
- 5 NOV 1990
heek c
INJEN
PERSONAL FOR PAUL, HKD FROM GOVERNOR
YRTELNO 1866 AND MY TELNO 3025: BILL OF RIGHTS (BOR)
HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION
18. THE AD HOC GROUP FAVOURS THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION WITH RESPONSIBILITIES FOR HUMAN RIGHTS EDUCATION, ARBITRATION/CONCILIATION BETWEEN PRIVATE INDIVIDUALS/BODIES, REVIEW OF LEGISLATION, INVESTIGATION OF COMPLAINTS AND ISSUE OF GUIDELINES. ESTABLISHMENT OF SUCH A BODY WOULD IN ALL PROBABILITY BE STRONGLY RESISTED BY THE CHINESE, AS THEY COULD REGARD IT AS FURTHER EVIDENCE OF A FUNDAMENTAL CHANGE TO THE LEGAL SYSTEM. THIS WILL HAVE TO BE HANDLED VERY CAREFULLY. CHINESE REACTION TO THE PROPOSAL TO MAKE THE BOR SUBJECT TO THE BASIC LAW WILL HAVE A SIGNIFICANT BEARING. IF THERE IS TO BE ANY SUCH BODY, THEN OUR PREFERENCE WOULD BE FOR A NEW ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON HUMAN RIGHTS, WHICH INITIALLY WOULD TAKE UP SOME OF THE ABOVE FUNCTIONS SUCH AS
HUMAN RIGHTS EDUCATION.
AMENDMENT TO THE LETTERS PATENT
19.
IN OUR TELNO 3066, WE HAVE PROPOSED THE TEXT AND TIMING FOR INTRODUCING THE AMENDMENT.
20. UKREP JLG AGREES WITH THE ASSESSMENT IN PARAS 4-9 ABOVE.
WILSON
YYYY
PAGE
1
CONFIDENTIAL
Page 135Page 136